Box with pouring spout



June 20, 1961 M. UMANOFF 2,989,224

BOX WITH POURING SPQUT Filed Aug. 28, 1957 v 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 d/12%, My-W June 20, 1961 M. UMANOFF BOX WITH POURING SPOUT 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 28, 1957 INVENTOR. /V6wf//v JvfiwaF/ m, mwgu United States The present invention relates to containers for packaging fluid materials and more particularly to card-board boxes having an end closure adapted to form a pouring spout.

It has heretofore been proposed to provide boxes for pulverant or granular materials with closure structures adapted to form a pouring spout. However, all of these closure structures are either impractical or more expensive to manufacure than conventional closure structures. Many of such prior spout forming closure structures require additional stock. Other spout forming closure structures require special closing machines or additional apparatus to be used in conjunction with standard closing machines. In many of the prior box closure structures incorporating a spout the pulverant or granular contents are apt to sift through the closure. Other spouts construct ed as part of the closure must be formed manually or, when formed by pulling out material through an opening, are apt to pull away from the opening rendering them useless as a spout.

One of the objects of the present invention is to provide a box closure adapted to form a pouring spout which may be manufactured at the same cost and which is competitive with conventional closures without a pouring spout.

Another object is to provide a pouring spout in a box closure which does not require any additional stock over a conventional closure and which may be closed with conventional closing machines without any additional apparatus or adjustment.

Another object is to provide a spout forming box closure which so seals the contents as to prevent sifting therefrom.

Another object is to provide a pouring spout in a box closure which is formed by merely pulling material from an underlying flap through an opening in an overlying flap without danger of removing the spout from the opening.

Another object is to provide a spout of the type indicated which may be detachably latched in the open position.

Still another object is to provide a box closure of simple and compact construction which may be easily and quickly manipulated by inexperienced persons without any special skill to form a perfect spout.

These and other objects will become apparent from the following description and drawings in which like reference characters denote like parts throughout the several views. In this specification and accompanying drawings I have described and illustrated a preferred embodiment of my invention; but it is to be expressly understood that the illustrated embodiment is not intended to be limiting of the invention. On the contrary, the preferred embodiment is for the purpose of illustration only in order that others skilled in the art may fully understand the invention and the principles thereof and the manner of applying it in practical use so that they may modify and adapt it in various forms, each as may be best suited to the conditions of a particular use.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a plan View of a conventional box blank incorporating the present invention and showing the spout construction formed in the two flaps projecting from one end thereof;

FIGURE 2 is a top plan view of a box formed from the blank illustrated in FIGURE 1 and showing the tabs ice extending from two opposed side panels folded inwardly toward each other in a conventional manner;

FIGURE 3 is a view similar to FIGURE 2 showing an inner flap extending from another panel folded inwardly to overlie the tabs;

FIGURE 4 is a view similar to FIGURE 2 showing the outer flap folded over the other flap to complete the closure;

FIGURE 5 is a plan view of the inner flap to show the geometry of die-cut wings forming the sides of the spout and illustrating the difference in the radius of curvature of one edge of the wings and the radius about which the outer ends of the wings swing;

FIGURE 6 is a perspective view of the closed box with the frangible die-cut section on the outer flap removed to form an opening for the spout and showing the scored crease lines in the underlying flap;

FIGURE 7 is a perspective view of one end of the box showing the die-cut section of the underlying flap drawn through the opening in the other flap to form the spout;

FIGURE 8 is a sectional view taken on line 8-8 of FIGURE 6 to show the sealed closure at one end of the box prior to forming a spout; and

FIGURE 9 is a sectional view taken on line 99 of FIGURE 7 to show the shoulders on the side wings of the spout overlying the flap at the edge of the opening.

The box to which the spout forming closure of the present invention is applied is of conventional construction and made from a blank 10 as shown in FIGURE 1. The blank 10 comprises a flat sheet of card-board or the like having the usual scores and die-cuts to form the side panels and end closure tabs and flaps of a conventional box. The score lines divide the blank into the panels 11, 12, 13 and 14 and a lap strip 15, while the die cuts form the tabs 16 and 17 projecting from the ends of the panels 11 and 13 and flaps 18 and 19 projecting from the ends of the side panels 12 and 14. The blank 10 is folded on the score lines around a mandrel with the edge of panel 14 overlying the lap strip 15 and glued thereto to form a rectangular tube. One end of the tube is closed by first folding the tabs 16 and 17 inwardly towards each other and then folding the flaps 18 and 19 one over the other and over the tabs 16 and 17 and gluing the overlapping portions of the tabs and flaps. The partially formed box is then filled with its contents and the open end closed by folding and gluing the tabs 16 and 17 and flaps 18 and 19 in the manner described with respect to the first end.

Blank 10 is formed on conventional machines used for forming blanks, folding the blanks to form a tube and closing the ends of the formed tube. Such conventional forming and closing machines may comprise cylinders or reciprocating parts having scoring ribs, cutting dies and printing, adhesive applying and varnish applying elements which operated on the blanks as they pass through the machine. The machines then fold the blanks to form a tube, close the ends by folding the tabs 16 and 17 and flaps 18 and 19 successively into overlapping relationship and apply pressure to glue the overlapping parts.

In accordance with the present invention, a spout construction A is formed in the blank 10 by the same machines which form and process the blanks. The spout construction A comprises a central tongue 20 and side wings 21 and 22 formed in one of the flaps. The tongue 20 is formed by scoring the center portion of the flap 18 to form a base hinge line 23 parallel to the hinge line of the flap and converging hinge lines 24 and 25 extending outwardly from the ends of the base hinge line. Tongue 20 and wings 21 and'22 are adapted to swing outwardly from the flap "18 about the base hinge line 23 and the wings are adapted to swing on hinge lines 24 and 25 relative to the tongue to form the sides of a trough-like spout.

The wings 21 and 22 are of identical form and are formed by die-cutting the flap 18 on curved lines from each end of base hinge line 23 and around hinge lines 24 and 25. The bottom edge 26 of each side wing 21 or 22 extends downwardly and outwardly and then reverses to form a recess 27. The upper edges 28 of the side wings 21 or 22 are die-cut along the arc of a circle. Thus, each side wing 21 and 22 is formed with shoulders 29 and 30 at each side of its recess 27. Flap 18 also is die-cut on a reversed are which intersects the upper curved edges 28 to form a finger tab 31 at the outer free end of the lip 20 of the spout. The edges 28 of the wings 21 and 22 are die-cut in interrupted sections with narrow strips 35 therebetween to retain the cut portion in the plane of the flap. While the die-cuts are illustrated in the drawings as double lines to distinguish them from scoring, illustrated in dot and dash lines, and perforations, illustrated by dotted lines, the edges of the die-cutting knives are so formed as to merely cut the material without forming any space between the sides. It will be observed by reference to FIGURE 1 that the finger tab 31 can be depressed to insert the finger nail under the free end of tongue 20 to swing the entire die cut section about the base hinge line 23.

The outer flap 19 has a frangible tear out section B overlying the tongue 20 and wings 21 and 22 centrally thereof and which may be easily and quickly removed to form an opening through which the underlying diecut section may be pulled to form a spout. Detachable section B is formed by a perforated base line 43 with diverging side lines 41 and 42 extending from the ends of the base line and a curved die-cut line 39 opposite the base line. The pull out section B is so formed in the flap 19 that it overlies the finger tab 31 in the flap 18 on reversely curved lines with the base line 43 of the opening overlying the base hinge line 23 of the spout portion. The diverging sides 41 and 42 of the opening 40 then overlie the side wings 21 and 22 of the spout section at one side of the hinge lines 24 and 25, while the curved edge 39 overlies the finger tab 31 and the outer end of the spout tongue 20. The sides 41 and 42 of the opening 40 in the outer flap 19 diverge in the opposite direction from the hinge lines 24 and 25 for the wings 21 and 22 in the underlying flap 18. Furthermore, the overlapping arrangement of the curved edge 39 on the outer flap 19 and finger tab 31 on the underlying fiap 18 facilitates the simultaneous removal of the tear-out section 40 and depression of the finger tab 31 to grip the finger nail under the free end of the tongue 20 of the spout section.

During the formation of the blank 10, varnish usually is applied to outside and/or inside faces thereof. In accordance with the present invention, varnish also is applied to the outside face of flap 18 over an area 44 covering the spout forming portion A, as indicated by cross hatching, with a margin area 45 surrounding the varnished area. The varnish applied at the area 44 acts to seal the die-cuts to prevent pulverant material contained in the formed box from sitting therethrough. The varnish also acts as a repellent to the adhesive applied to the marginal area 45 of the surface of the flap 18. Thus, the varnish provides a means of preventing spout portion of the underlying flap 18 from adhering to the overlying flap 19.

The tabs 16 and 17 are cut on curved lines 47 and 48 to provide an open area under the die-cut spout portion A when the tabs and flaps are folded to form a closure. The tabs 16 and 17 may be cut on lines 47 and 48 by conventional machines used to form the flat blank 10 without any additional apparatus except for the cutting dies required in addition to usual blank forming dies initially applied to the machine. Conventional machines then apply printing, varnish and adhesive to the surfaces of the blank 10, flap 18 and tabs 16 and 17 in the usual manner.

Another feature of applicants invention resides in locating the spout and tear-out sections A and B centrally of the flaps 18 and 19, respectively, so as to provide the marginal section 45 around the entire varnished spout area 44- which is sealed to the overlying flap 19 by adhesive to prevent sifting of the material to the spout area. Tabs 16 and 17 also are sealed to the underside of flap 18 by adhesive to prevent sifting of material endwise of the closure.

Still another feature of applicants invention is the geometry of the spout forming portion A of flap 18 to prevent the formed spout from being pulled away from the top closure. As shown in FIGURE 5, the edge 28 of the spout forming portion A is die-cut on an arc of a long radius R having a center 0 aligned with the center of the tongue 20. Point X at the outer end of wing 21 or 22 swings about an arc of a shorter radius R about point 0 on the hinge line 24 or 25 located inwardly from the center line 0 Thus, when the wing 21 or 22 swings on hinge line 24 or 25 the shoulder 29 will always extend beyond the die-cut edge 28 and underlie the rearward face of the fiap 18. Also the point Y at the outer extremity of the shoulder 30 will swing on a still shorter are about a radius R around the point 0 so that the shoulder will always extend beyond the diecut edge 28 and overlie the front face of the flap 18. One form of applicants invention having now been described in detail, the mode of opening the closure to form a pouring spout is next explained.

Assuming that the blank 10 has been formed into a box and the ends closed in a conventional manner as previously explained. With applicants construction the tabs 16 and 17 underlie the flap 18 and are glued thereto around the spout forming portion A. The top fiap 19 overlies the flap 18 and is sealed thereto around the spout forming and tear-out portions A and B. To open the container the thumb nail is inserted in the circular die-cut 39 in the outer flap 19 which simultaneously lifts the tear-out portion B in flap 19 and depresses the finger tab 31 in the flap 18. As the edge 39 is lifted, portion B will tear along the perforated lines 41, 42 and 43 to tear it from the flap 19 and form an opening 40 therein as illustrated in FIGURE 6. However, either simultaneously or separately, the finger nail is engaged with the free end of the tongue 20 which pulls out the spout forming portion A as the portion 13 is torn from the flap 19. Outward movement of the tongue 20 through the opening 40 causes the wings 21 and 22 to fold on the hinge lines 24 and 25 as they move outwardly through the restricted opening. Sides 41 and 42 of the opening 40 guide and restrict the swinging movement of the wings 21 and 22 so that it forms the trough-like spout 50 as shown in FIGURE 7. The contents of the box may then be dispensed by merely tilting the box to cause the contents to flow through the opening in the flap 18 and outwardly through the spout 50 to the desired location.

During the confined swinging movement of the spout forming portion A about the base hinge line 23 and the swinging movement of wings 21 and 22 about hinge lines 24 and 25, the point X automatically swings in an are about the radius R at the rear of the die-cut edge 28 so that the shoulder overlies the inner face of the flap 18 at all times. Simultaneously, the point Y swings on an arc of the radius R to at all times overlie the outer face of the flap 18 at the rear of the die-cut edge 28. Because of the geometry of the arcs formed by the radii R R and R the wings 21 and 22 are positively held by the shoulders 29 from movement outwardly beyond the flap 18. Also the shoulders 30 detachably latch the spout in its outer or extended position as illustrated in FIGURE 7.

If the container is to be closed after use, the spout 50 is merely pushed inwardly which causes the shoulders 30 on the wings 31 and 32 to slide along the front face of the flap 18 to their original position. However, the spout may be withdrawn at any time by merely inserting the finger nail under the free end of the tongue 20 and pulling the spout forming portion A of the flap 18 outwardly through the opening 40 in the outer flap 19. Thus, the sides 41 and 42 of the opening 40 cooperate with the wings 21 and 22 of the spout forming portion A in the flap 18, to form a trough like spout 50 projecting from the end of the closure.

It will now be observed that the present invention provides an end closure incorporating a pouring spout which may be manufactured at the same cost as a conventional box without a spout and may be closed with conventional machines without any additional apparatus or adjustment. It will also be observed that the present invention provides a spout forming box closure which so seals the contents as to prevent sifting therefrom. It will still further be observed that the present invention provides a pouring spout in a box closure which may be easily and quickly manipulated by an inexperienced person to form a spout without danger of withdrawing the spout from the closure.

While a single embodiment of the invention is herein illustrated and described, it will be understood that modifications may be made in the construction and arrangements of elements without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. Therefore, without limitation in this respect the invention is defined by the following claims:

I claim:

1. A sift proof container for finely divided fluid material having an end closure adapted to form a pouring spout comprising opposed tabs folded inwardly toward each other, opposed flaps folded one over the other, the outer flap having a frangible tear-out section to form an opening therein, the inner flap being scored and die-cut to form a hinged section having a central tongue and wing portions at opposite sides of the tongue adapted to be withdrawn through the opening in the outer flap to form a pouring spout, the detachable section of the outer flap and the hinged section of the inner flap overlying each other, the upper surfaces of the tabs being joined to the under surfaces of the inner flap by adhesive, and a coating of adhesive repellent varnish on the upper surface of said inner flap in the region of said spout-forming section, the area of said coating being greater than the area of said spout-forming section so that said coating extends over and seals said die cuts in said inner flap to prevent said finely divided material from sifting through said die cuts, the unvarnished portion of said inner flap being adhesively joined to the under surface of said outer flap.

2. A container for finely divided fluid material having an end closure formed by opposed tabs folded inwardly toward each other, an inner flap folded over the tabs and glued thereto, an outer flap folded over the inner flap, the marginal portions of the overlapping flaps being glued to each other around the entire periphery of the flaps, the outer flap having a centrally located frangible tear-out section to form an opening having a base edge and two side edges extending from the ends of said base edge respectively, the central portion of the inner flap being scored and die-cut to form a hinged spout adapted to be withdrawn through the opening in the outer flap, said spout having a tongue hinged to said inner flap along a hinge line underlying the base edge of said opening and a pair of lateral wings hinged to said tongue along fold lines extending from the ends of the tongue hinge, said wings engaging and being pivoted toward each other by the side edges of said opening when said spout is withdrawn through said opening, said spout when swung outwardly forming an opening in the inner flap having a peripheral edge opposite the tongue hinge, each of said wings having a notch near its outer end forming a pair of opposed shoulders, the distance from the extremity of each of said shoulders to the adjacent end of the tongue hinge being greater than the distance from said peripheral edge of said opening to said tongue hinge, the outermost shoulder being longer than the other, whereby said shoulders straddle said inner flap when the spout is fully opened and serve not only to prevent the spout from being pulled completely out of said container but also impede its collapsing into said container.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,914,543 Trost June 20, 1933 2,010,863 Johnson Aug. 13, 1935 2,069,281 Sebrevy Feb. 2, 1937 2,812,127 Graybill Nov. 5, 1957 

